Abstract
To evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation (PBMT) in preventing dysgeusia in breast cancer patients treated with doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (AC). This is a phase II, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 112 breast cancer patients treated with AC. The patients were divided equally into two groups: a test group treated with 2 J red laser and 3 J infrared laser on 21 points that were symmetrically distributed on the tongue on day 0 of four cycles of AC, and an equal placebo group treated with simulated PBMT to blind the patient, evaluator, and statistician. The clinicopathological and sociodemographic data, results of taste test, and subjective taste analysis, and the QoL, ECOG performance status, body mass index, and other side effects were recorded. The data were analyzed using ANOVA-RM/Bonferroni, Friedman/Dunn, and chi-square/Fisher's exact tests. PBMT patients showed less objective and subjective taste loss (p<0.05). On the other hand, the placebo group showed a higher ECOG status (p=0.037) and more significant weight loss (p<0.001) after four cycles of AC. The QoL was significantly higher in the PBMT group (p<0.05) at all assessment periods, and PBMT treatment also reduced the incidence of cachexia (p=0.020), anorexia (p<0.001), diarrhea (p=0.040), oral mucositis (p=0.020), and vomiting (p=0.008). PBMT reduced the taste loss and improved the overall health status and QoL of patients with breast cancer treated with AC. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry ( www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br ) approval number RBR-9qnm34y, registered on 01/05/2021.
Highlights
Chemotherapy for breast cancer generally combines antineoplastic drugs, orally or intravenously, that inhibit tumor growth and normal fast-growing cells [1, 2, 3]
The quality of life (QoL) was significantly higherin the PBMT group (p < 0.05) at all assessment periods, and PBMT treatment reduced the incidence of cachexia (p = 0.020), anorexia (p < 0.001), diarrhea (p = 0.040), oral mucositis (p = 0.020), and vomiting (p = 0.008)
PBMT reduced the taste loss and improved the overall health status and QoL of patients with breast cancer treated with AC
Summary
Chemotherapy for breast cancer generally combines antineoplastic drugs, orally or intravenously, that inhibit tumor growth and normal fast-growing cells [1, 2, 3]. Its use in breast cancer can occur after (adjuvant chemotherapy) or before (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) the surgical procedure, during the maintenance phase, or even palliatively in patients with metastatic tumors [2,3,4]. Highly effective for most breast tumors, doxorubicin,in combination with cyclophosphamide (AC), has limiting factors such as cardiotoxicity and emergence of multiple drug resistance. Antineoplastic agents used in chemotherapeutic treatment are toxic to normal fast-growing tissues, with the manifestation of side effects during follow-up. Among the various side effects in women treated with AC, the second most frequent non-hematologic complications is taste loss (97.3%) [1, 3, 5]. Patients with dysgeusia presented with worse overall quality of life (QoL) and reduced food intake and cachexia [6,7,8]
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